Preparation

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add 2/3 cup ramp bulbs and stems to skillet and sauté just until soft but not browned, reducing heat if necessary to prevent browning, about 5 minutes. Transfer sautéed ramps to processor (do not clean skillet). Add green tops, cheese, almonds, and tarragon to processor; process until finely chopped. With machine running, gradually add 1/2 cup oil and puree until almost smooth. Transfer pesto to bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead; cover and chill.

Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally.

Meanwhile, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in same large skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle salmon with salt and pepper. Add salmon to skillet and cook just until opaque in center, about 4 minutes per side.

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Reviews

I found ramps and wild king salmon at the market, and then searched for a recipe to use them. I subbed hazelnuts for the almonds, to make it a little more Pacific Northwesty, and cooked the salmon sous vide before searing one side for presentation. It's actually a much prettier dish than the photo here depicts, and my husband said it "tasted like spring."

Yah, ramps are wild
leeks, and are
pretty hard to find.
Look for them in
mid-to-late spring,
and usually only at
specialty produce
stands, farmers'
markets, etc.
In season, this is a
goto recipe for me.
The flavors are
intense, and go
perfectly together.
I've substituted
pine nuts for the
almonds, which works
pretty well, and
I've also subbed
baby leeks for the
ramps in summer,
which isn't quite as
good, but still
delicious.
For anyone not
familiar with ramps,
this is a great way
to try to them --
simple recipe with
huge flavor.

I just came home from the Union Square Farmer's Market in NYC with two bunches of fat ramps and am looking for recipes. This is the time and I have bought them the last couple years. For those who don't know what ramps are, one may type in "ramps recipes" and get an explanation.

Your best chance for finding ramps is
going to be at a Farmers Market. They
are rarely commercially available and
have a very short season, so grab them
if you see them. I bought two bunches
today at my local farm market and
looking forward to trying them out.

I found ramps, finally at Whole Foods but I had to bug the produce manager for a month. Fortunately he was a good sport. My husband and I really liked this recipe. But, the pesto is very rich. Salmon prepared this way was really good and the pesto went with the salmon very well.

I could not find ramps so I used a combo of 1 leek, 2 scallions and a couple green onions. My husband and I both loved the pesto on the salmon. All the flavors are really present,tarragon,almonds,cheese, and shallots,etc. I think I overcooked my pasta a bit and I'm not sure I added enough of the reserved water. My husband liked the whole dish. I thought the pasta was a bit bland.